Circulating system for retreading mold pressure bags



June 4, 1935.

w H. J. WOOCK 2,003,566

CIRCULA TING SYSTEM FOR RETREADING MOLD PRESSURE BAGS Filed April 21, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I F116 1 1 2 J zz 6 16 M r v I 7 J0 HIHI 4 INVENTOR 21 17. c']. Woovk ATTORNEY H. J. WOOCK 'June 4, 1935.

CIRCULATING SYSTEM FOR RETREADING MOLD PRESSURE BAGS Filed April 21, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ha. T450001:

ATTORNEY June 4, H J, WQQCK' 2,003,566

CIRCULATING SYSTEM FOR RETREADING MOLD PRESSURE BAGS INVENTOR H. J. W000i:

BY @MAAAAL.

ATTORNEY PatentedJune 4, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFrcE Herbert J. Woock, 'Lodi, Calif., assignor to Super Mold Corporation, Lodi, Oa1if., a corporation Application April 21, 1931, Serial No. 531,729

5 Claims.

This invention relates to tire retreading with the use of the full-circle mold such as that shown in my Patent No. 1,764,378, dated June 17, 1930; and particularly represents improvements over the structure for filling and retaining a pressure bag full of water and under pressure, shown in my co-pending application for patent, Serial No. 519,411, filed March 2, 1931.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a system of the above character and for the same purpose which eliminates the need of a pressure pump (which is a somewhat expensive piece of apparatus and is apt to leak and give trouble) and substitute therefor a simple circulating pump.

Another object of the present invention is t provide a centralized control for the system, or in other words one so arrangedthat Water may be forced into the bag, discharged therefrom, or permitted to circulate through the pump and the heating tank without entering the bag, by the proper manipulation of a single valve.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly efiective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters ofreference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatieelevation of my improved circulating system.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevationof a six-way valve preferably used to effect the desired centralized control of the system showing the valve plug in its neutral position.

Figs. 3 to 5 are cross sections of the valve taken on the lines 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5 respectively of Fig. 2; showing the valve plug in the position occupied when water is being circulated through the tire bag.

Figs. 6 to 8 are similar sectional views of the valve showing the positions of the plug when the water is exhausted from the bag and its place taken by air.

Figs. 9 to 11 are similar sections of the valve showing the plug in its neutral position or when the water ismerely being circulated between the pump and the tank.

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of a special form of bag-stem and water intake member.

Referring nowmore particularly to the characters of reference on thedrawings, i denotes one of the continuous circular sections of aretreading mold, in which the tire 2 is mounted. The pressure bag 3 is placed inside the tire, which is engaged by a rim 4 which prevents the sides of the tire from spreading and also confines the bag in place. Steam to heat the mold chamber is generated in the usual manner, by an apparatus which has nothing to do with the present invention.

The water heating and circulating system for the bag comprises a suitable steam generating boiler 5. A steam coil 6 is connected to the boiler so that acontinuous circulationof steam will be had through the coil. A Water tight tank 1 surrounds the coil so that the water in the tank will be heated by the heat in the coil.

To maintain the water in the tank ata constant temperature, by reason of the temperature of the steam in the coil, I provide an automatic thermostatic control'device 8 connected tothe tank and to the burner R of the boiler 5. A pipe 9 leading from a source of compressed air located at a point remote from the system is con nected to" the top of the tank. The pressure in the pipe is constant, and is maintained at a pressure sufficient to prevent the generation of steam from the waterin the tank when said water is heated to the high temperature necessary for the purpose.

l0 designates the casing of a special six-Way valve, in which the plug, I I is turnablymounted. Ahandle I'Zapplied to one end of the plugcdntrols its turning, while a pawl arm I3 is pivoted on the handle and has a nub HI attached to engage a notch'fian ge IE on one end of the casing. The notches in this flange are spaced so that the plug may be held in any one of three predetermined positions. of ports A and D, B and E, C and F. The port A is connected tothe bag 3 at the bottom by a pipe l6; port B is connected to the top of the tank 1 by a pipe I1; and the port 0 is connected to the bottom of the tank by a pipe l8. The port D is connected to the discharge of a circulating pump l9 by a pipe 20; the port E is connected to the'bag at the top by a pipe 2|; while the port Fis connected to the intake of the pump by a,

pipe 22.

The plug is provided with a plurality, of passages 23, 24 and 25 to register with the ports A and D, B and E, and C and F respectively. These are so arranged that upon turning the plug to a certain position, the water may be fed into the bag and circulated therethrough while being The casing has opposed pairs pipe 20.

maintained at a predetermined pressure. result is obtained as follows:

The water may pass from the pipe l8, through the valve ports 0 and F and plug passage 25 to the intake of the pump through the pipe 22; from the discharge of the pump through the pipe 20 back to the valve, and from the valve to the bag through the pipe 16 by means of the ports A and D and plug passage 23. At the same time a return circulation is had through the pipe 2|, the valve by means of the ports E and B and the plug This passage 24, and the pipe ll back to the topof the tank. The position of the plug in the valve body to give these results is shown in Figs.,3, 4 and 5. The air pressure from the pipe 9 being constantly on the water in the tank, the water in the pipe and bag are held at whatever pressure is desired. Not only is the water in the bag held at this pressure, but the water which is heated to a relatively high temperature by contact with the steam coil, is kept from turning into steam. The valve plug is left in the above position, to permit of and continue circulation of the water, as long as a retreading operation is in progress.

When it is desired to empty the bag the valve plug is turned to a position which gives the following circulation of the water. The water from the tire passes to the valve through the pipe I6 and leaves the valve through the pipe 22. This is done by means of a bypass 26 in the valve body leading from the pipe IE to a port G in said body in alinement with the plug passage 25, which then registers with said port and the port F. The water then passes to the pump and circulates through the pump back to the valve through the The water then. passes from the valve back to the tank through the pipe I8. This is done by means of another bypass 21 in the valve body leading from a port H in the body in alinement with the plug passage 23 and extending to r the pipe [8; the passage 23' then being positioned to place the plugs D and H in communication. At the same time the compressed air flows from the tank through the pipe l1 and passes through the valve-into the top of the bag through the pipe 2! by way of the ports B and E'and the plug passage 24. The bag is thus completely emptied of water to allow the same to be removed from the tire and mold; the water beingreplaced by air. This positioning of the plug is shown in Figs. 6, '7, and 8.

While the bag is being removed from one tire valve and thence to the intake of the pump.

through the pipes I8 and 22, respectively, by means ofrports C" and F and the plug passage 25. At the same time water flows from the discharge of the pump through the valve to the top of the tank by way of the pipes 20 and I1. This is done by means of a; bypass 28 in the valve body leading from a port J in said body in alinement with the plug passage 23 to the pipe H; the plug passage 23 then establishing communication between the ports D and J. The passage 24 then breaks communication between the pipes I1 and 21 so that the air is shut off from passing to the bag.. This positioning of the'plug is shown in Figs. 9, 10 and I1. In this manner the water is kept out of the bag and is reheated to an even degree by its circulation about the steam coil. If it is not desired to circulate the water when the valve plug is set in this position it is of course only necessary to halt the operation of the pump.

In connection with the above described water circulating system, I have found that it is very essential for proper results, that the water be delivered to the bag near the bottom and in all directions. To accomplish this and to also enable the same Water intake tube to be used with all sizes of bags, I have provided the special arrangement shown in Fig. 12.

In this structure a tubular stem 29 is rigidly secured to and projects outwardly from the inner periphery of the bag in the same manner as the usual air valve is secured to the inner tube of a tire. The water intake tube 39, of a length sufficient to project to the bottom of a bag of any size which may be used is slidable through the stem. On its inner end the tube is provided with a bottom hole and other holes 3! all about the adjacent portion of the tube. On its upper end the tube carries an elbow 32, to which a length of flexible hose 33 leading from the pipe I6 is detachably connected in the usual manner.

Slidable on the tube is a sleeve 34 having a downwardly projecting flange 35 at the bottom which is turnabiy engaged by a nut 35 detachably threaded on the upper end of the stem 29. The outer end of the stem and the adjacent bore of the sleeve 35 are beveled as at 3'. so as to have wedging engagement with each other.

The upper portion of the sleeve is provided with suitable packing 39 engaging the tube, which is compressed thereabout by a nut 46 screwed into the sleeve. The nut is split on one side and is provided with a transverse clamping pin 4! so that the nut may be clamped against the tube to hold the latter immovable. The nut 35 is turned by opposed handle rods 42, connected thereto, while the sleeve 34 also has a radial handle rod 43 to prevent said sleeve from turning when the nut is being screwed down. The stem 29 is the only part which is permanently mounted on any bag, the remaining parts being separate and applicable to any stem and. bag.

In applying the tube 30 to any bag, it is slid into place through the stem 29, and the nut 36 is then turned down so as to clamp the surfaces 31 against each other; the handle 43 being held by the operator during this movement of the nut so as to prevent any rotation of the sleeve. The tube 39 is then pressed down until it touches the bottom of the bag and is then retracted about one-eighth of an inch or so. It is then held in this position while the packing nut 40 is clamped down hard against the packing. The clamping pin 4| is then actuated so as to pinch the nut against the tube and thus hold the latter in the position to which it has been set, as above described. The flexible hose may then be coupled to the elbow 32 and the water circulated through the bag.

It is to be understood that while I have specified water as being the liquid preferably used, other liquids such as oil, glycerine or the like are capable of being used instead. It is also to be understood that while I have shown and described the system as being designed for use in connection with a retreading mold, it is capable of being used with a tire making mold as well.

substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention,- as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus for vulcanizing rubber on a tire casing comprising a system to circulate liquid through the casing, such system including a liquid supply tank, means to admit a gas under pressure into the tank, means affording communication between opposite ends of the tank and diametrically opposed inlets into the casing, a circulating instrumentality interposed at a point in the system, and a single manually controlled valve interposed in the system and operable to selectively permit the circulation of liquid from the tank through the casing in a continuing cycle, the interruption of such cycle and the return of the liquid to the tank, and the replacement for the liquid in the casing of gas under pressure.

2. An apparatus for vulcanizing rubber on a tire casing comprising a system to circulate liquid through the casing, such system including a liquid supply tank, means to admit a gas under pressure into the tank, means affording communication between opposite ends of the tank and diametrically opposed inlets into the casing, a circulating instrumentality interposed at a point in the system, and means to selectively effect the circulation of liquid from the tank through the casing, the return of the liquid to the tank and the replacement therefor in the casing of gas under pressure, and the circulation a liquid supply tank, means to admit a gas under pressure into the tank, means affording communication between opposite ends of the tank and diametrically opposed inlets into the casing, means to selectively effect the circulation of liquid from the tank through the casing while maintaining it under the influence of the gas pressure and to discharge the liquid from the casing and return it to the tank while replacing it with gas under pressure.

4. An apparatus for vulcanizing rubber on tire casing including a tank to hold water, means to maintain a constant gas pressure against the water in the tank, means to heat the water, means to circulate the heated water in one direction through the casing while maintaining the gas pressure thereon, and means to withdraw the water from the casing and at the same time substitute the gas under pressure for the water within the casing as the latter is withdrawn therefrom.

5. An apparatus for vulcanizing rubber on a tire casing including a tank to hold water, means to maintain a constant gas pressure against the water in the tank, means to heat the water, means to circulate the heated water in one direction through the casing while maintaining the gas pressure thereon, means to withdraw the water from the casing and at the same time substitute the gas under pressure. for the water within the casing as the latter iswithdrawn therefrom, and

means to shut off communication between the casing and both the water and gas.

HERBERT J. WOOCK. 

